what worries me is that the people of South Carolina voted for this nut!

I don't understand why this is a story. He took some personal time. I think this is blown way out of proportion. The only issue I see is who is running the state in his absents.

Could Sanford have been in some sort of planning session with his buddy Howard Rich...a sort of working vacation?

The governor is in the wrong and he got caught. His staff were clearly trying to cover up what he did. We would have never found out had the reporter not caught him in the airport. Impeachment in the near future...I think so!

Can't wait til this plays out in the 2012 Presidential election!

the guy is having an affair..maybe a gay one.

While this is strange, this is the least interesting story being covered this week IMO. Seems like the dude just needed a break for a few days after a rough stretch, and everyone is jumping all over him for political gain (even though it pains me to say that because I hate sticking up for a right-winger). He should have let the lt gvnr know he was leaving, yeah, but good grief everyone needs a few days of peace every now and again.

'WHATS UP WITH THE MEDIA", are they suposing thr govenor has done something wrong or what, dose a man not have the right to get away to himself, or is this a police state where you have to give account for your whereabouts all the time where is our civil respect for the Govenor of the state of south carolina for him to be able to get away without fear of reprebution, i mean is he on trail for something?sounds to me the lt. govenor is panicing be left in the office and he knows it his responciblity to take control of any emergency in the absence of the govenor, or maybe he anit up to his job and thats why hes panicing, just a thought.

Nice, good looking out.

But I just wanna make sure cause I heard different reports. I heard that he was out because of the 700 stimulis package(by the way, he better pray is not that or even mention it) and I also heard he was on vacation, etc. But that's the thing, I heard one thing and then the other and no offense but how come his wife doesn't know? That's not right, he should do better than that or think for that matter.

I don't care his business, he can do whatever he pleases BUT if even your own people don't know where you are, you my friend, are thinking WAY too much...which brings me of my friends, damn!!!! They're coming back from the beach but thank God, they're gonna get something to eat first, LOL!!!

You see what I'm trying to say Gov???

Good looking out guys, it probably may not be as serious...I hope not.

While yet another example of deplorable leadership should surprise no one, it would be interesting to see if the state functioned just fine without him.

My guess is that less is certainly more.

what is all the crying about, isn't the lt, governors job to cover the governors ass. if he can't do it now ,how is he going to do it if he is the governor, how is he going to handle it. what a wussy. if i had to deal with all the crap i'd go to the moon to get away from these crazies BEAM ME UP SCOTTY

I cant help feeling sorry for him, we all sin lets get real but being in the public eye when you sin everyone wants to dish it out – so its complicated – he is married has kids yes, he is the governor – this sort of thing happens, has happend and will continue to happen – what can i say.
gita

Huh. Well, there I went defending him and 15 minutes later he admits an affair. That'll teach me...

ho-ho – turns out he has been having an affair. Why am I NOT surprised??

"Sanford is a foolish man who cares nothind about his family or the people of SC similar to children of plantation owners. They just lack education and class. Some things you just can't buy like Gw Bush. whom is a very rich man but he had no common sense, class, respect, etc. Those things you cannot buy even if you have all the money in the world."

This is bizarre. While he certainly has the right to take a vacation, the fact that his staff gave differing stories about his whereabouts from they don't know to he's hiking, and his wife was saying she didn't know but wasn't worried (missing father's day with his family was weird), this was either a bad publicity stunt or he really wanted to perfect his Argentine tango. Either way, this man is an embarrassment to the party and his state.

this guy should be impeached ASAP for leaving his post. he can forget about any more elections........he deserves nothing

tom f. –texas

Recommend CNN prepare and air a special report looking at politicians, church leaders, and other persons in the public light who use their notoriaty as a means to start extra marital affairs. Could be titled Morals in America similiar to the Blacks in America. Psychologists could address why persons in power feel the need to risk it all when they eventually get caught and have to "air their dirty laundry in public".

Is anyone else sick of these Republican politicians who tout family values, and continue to get caught with their pants down (so to speak)? And they STILL talk about Bill Clinton's BJs, as if they can throw stones. A bunch of hypocrites! The karma train is coming around and I love it!

penny: I was just wondering do you feel the same way about John Edwards? I mean after all he lied, for months, and his wife was and is still battling Cancer. Do all men who cheat lack class, or is it just Republicans? And, what makes you all so sure, that his people knew where he was? After all, maybe he did tell them he wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but just needed to get away. People have been known to do that.

Mark Sanford/ TMI!

Don't cry for me Argentina

i want real news please not personal drama that belongs on some other channel. i wont mention names. give me the real news. he is a gov not G-D. why do people allow themselves to get caught up in all this meaningless news . open ur eyes folks people want to nuke us!!!! am i wrong in not caring about the personal affairs of a politician???

Oh, he's been perfecting his Argentine Tango all right. Complete with a partner other than his wife.

"Don't cry for me South Carolina / The truth is, I ALWAYS left you ...."

I'm done with the Republican party. Are there any leaders left in our country who I can actually look up to and respect? I've decided to officially change my party affiliation for voting. My dilemma: what to change it to.

Why the public needs to know the content of non-political emails between Sanford and his girlfriend is unfathomable – even more bewildering is why the ostensibly serious media, including CNN, broadcast them. It's embarassing and frankly even those who go astray (and their families) don't deserve that kind of treatment. The man is not a criminal. CNN's thirst for ratings – and money – doesn't justify this kind of tabloid reporting. I agree with elisa b – stick to the real news and retain some dignity for the journalism profession.

A complete hipocrite, "christian conservative" and a loser. Don't cry for me Argentina!..He should be impeached and fined. He should lose all his security clearances.